A new backpack - and a look at all of my SOTA gear (summer 2020)

So if you have been watching my most recent videos you would know that I am a little more chunky or ‘covid kgs’ have been found. My trusty 30L Berghous free flow backpack that I have been using ever since getting into SOTA has started to dig into my shoulders, as an ultralight pack (1.46kgs for 30L) it saves weight in not having extra padding for the shoulder straps and hip belt.

My good friend Andrew VK1AD had recently updated his pack and was giving it good comments.

He went with the 50L Caribee Ops day pack (below) - I couldn’t help but follow him down that path. I managed to snap up a “sand” coloured one from amazon.

While I was weighing and measuring packs etc, I thought it would also be a good idea to show you what I am carrying in this new pack.

My SOTA kit for summer 2020.

So from the top row left to right:

• Elecraft T1 Tuner w/ a short RG174 jumper

• HF Antenna ZS6BKW - resonate on 80/40/20

• Yaesu FT817, mic, SOTABEAMS inline compressor, Anderson jumper cable in a waterproof Plano 1460 waterproof case

• Black pouch for mast mounting (more below)

• Samsung Tablet for logging using VKPORTALOG and APRSDROID

• Kenwood TH72A APRS enabled dual-band HT with BNC adapter (all my radios are now BNC - HATE SMA) BNC w/ dual-band whip

• Small green lunch box with SG labs 1296 transverter, power cable, supplied PCB 2 el yagi antenna

• Personal first aid kit, with snake bite bandages and other such items needed to look after yourself

• Zippy 4200 Lifepo4 battery with Andersons fitted

• Small stuff sack with outdoor toiletries (TP, mini trowel, hand sanitiser)

• Buff/neck gaiter given to me by a diving client to cover my neck and ears in the sun

• Pink trail marking tape to mark any off-trail expeditions

• Mini survival / outdoor signaling kit

• 8m Fiberglass pole - actually it comes as a 9m but you remove the top sections for strength.

My mounting kit for the pole - with these items I can put the mast up anywhere:

• 3D printed 3 points guying triangle

• 2 friction grip straps to strap to any vertical trig or pole

• Lightweight tent pegs to secure the triable mount, and the ends of the dipole

All told, the new pack (1.77Kgs) even with the new capacity dry loaded - no food or water brings me in at 8.24kgs

Pre-planning document for Solo MultiDay, Multi Summit Hike - Easter Long weekend

This is a live document and will update up until the depature date.

When: at this stage, I am looking at around Easter long weekend. 31 March - 01 April.

Bands: 40M, 20M, 2M FM.
Antennas: HomeBrew 10,15,20,40M linked inverted v dipole, 2m & 70cm Slim Jim rollup, Nagoya NA 771 2m & 70cm whip.
Rigs: FT817ND all band all mode 5W QRP & FT60R 5w 2m & 70cm FM HT.

Power: 17,000mAh Powerfilm Solar, Light Saver Max, with 27w integrated solar panel, 12v out, 2 USB out.

Duration: 3 days, 2 nights, I plan to walk to Murrays Gap, set up base camp and then day hike it to each of the summits. This places me semi close to 3 freshwater streams as well as easy access to trails leading to the summits.

Distance: total round trip is 25km over 3 days.

Non SOTA Comms Plan:I am working on the assumption of zero mobile phone comms, I will have Optus and Telstra with me. I am thinking I should have ok voice to Mt Ginini 2M Repeater (146.950FM -600khz split, 91.5 CTCSS tone) from the lower valley, additionally, I will have my little APRS TNC (MOBILINKD http://www.mobilinkd.com/) that I can use for APRS spotting APRS messages, and occasionally tracking.

Day by day plan:

1. Departing Canberra on Good Friday, March 31 driving south via Adaminaby NSW to the trailhead, walk into the Murray’s Gap Campsite set up camp,
2. Day hike to Mt Bimberi VK1/AC-001 Summit (1913m), activate, return to base camp, camp overnight
3. Day hike to Mt Murray VK1/AC-003 (1845m) activate, return to base camp, pack up, hike out to carpark, return to Canberra Sunday 01 April.

Google earth planned track: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/86q7gjmeqrvagtm/AAA-ENBUFm3QhOEb8nGSISBDa?dl=0

To Do list:

Sort gear, repack and re-weigh everything to trim grams.

wheel alignment on the vehicle  

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Catch the Sun! Store the power!

I seem to have developed a bit of a fetish for batteries.

Any one that knows me or reads this blog knows that I love my gadgets. I have specifically designed all of my kit to either be charged by solar (the Goal Zero Guide 7) or via USB.

On an every day basis I use the Plox Box. Which replaced one of the 2 Guide 10 Plus battery pack. It was only replaced because I needed more power for my iPhone 5 and USB Wi-Fi. I still used the Guide 10 Plus packs as a solar regulator when items cannot take a direct solar charge due to irregular power delivery